Holster



June 24-, 1952 BRICE: 2,601,586

HOLSTER Filed Dec. 2, 1946 INVENTOR. F J Loyd J. Brice Patented June 24, 1952 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE HOLSTER Loyd J. Brice, Portland, Oreg.

Application December 2, 1946, Serial No. 713,536

My present invention relates to means for holstering a pistol or revolver in such fashion as to prevent its loss in a scuflle and to permit its smooth and rapid drawing.

A primary object of my present invention is to provide a pistol holster which supports the hand gun upon the body of the wearer at such an angle and in such a position that it can be drawn rapidly and be instantly ready for firing. To this end the holster comprises means for positioning the holster at an angle of substantially 45 degrees to the vertical, with the open upper end, or revolver butt end of the holster, toward the front of the wearer when the holster is worn above the hip.

A further object of my invention is to provide a holster having only a small flap extending about its open end near the hammer-protecting portion of the holster, which flap is separately fastened in position at the side of the holster next to the body of the wearer so that it cannot become accidentally opened during a scuflle or when the wearer brushes against trees or walls.

A further object of my present invention is to provide a holster which supports a pistol or the like upon the body of the wearer in any of a plurality of adjustably predetermined positions longitudinally of a belt, such as a Sam Browne belt, worn by the wearer, so as to'position the butt of the pistol or revolver at the approved point selected by the wearer. Connected with the foregoing I provide a clincher-loop which may accommodate varying widths of belts and may be drawn tight to prevent slippage of the holster from its accustomed position.

An object of my present invention is to provide a holster with a retaining flap which may be opened by digital engagement by the hand gripping the butt of the gun for drawing and firing. To this end I provide a hammer-enclosing fiap having an edge outstanding from the body of the holster so as to be readily engageable by a thumb or finger of the hand gripping the butt of the gun, which flap may be opened and drawn out of the way in the single movement required to draw the pistol from the holster.

A further object of my present invention is to provide a holster which cannot flap and bang about the body of the user, or dangle in an awkward position, or present the butt of the gun at such angles as to permit it to become caught on brush or other obstructions, or present the butt of the gun at such an angle or distance'from the body as to make it easily removable. by a person other than the wearer.

3 Claims. (01. 224-2) A further object of my invention is to provide a holster having a hammer-enclosing flap which may be loosened by the thumb of the wearer when the pistol is gripped by the right hand in a crossdraw, or which may be opened by engagement thereof by the index finger of the left hand when the pistol is used by a left-handed person and the holster Worn at the left hip.

A further object of my invention is to provide a holster having gun retaining means which may be rapidly opened by the wearer, but which is in such position that a criminal being escorted in the front seat of an automobile, of which the wearer is the driver, cannot reach over and disengage the gun without placing his arm in such position that a hammer lock or other painful hold may be applied by the wearer.

A further object of my invention is to provide a holster from which the gun cannot be accidentally dislodged, yet from which the gun may be drawn by the wearer and fired in extremely rapid time. When worn on the outside of the garments of the wearer a single-action revolver may be drawn from my holster and fired within less than one second, and when worn beneath an outer garment, such as an overcoat, may be drawn and fired in approximately one and one-half seconds.

An object of my invention is to provide a holster so retaining a gun therein as to present its butt toward the opening of the wearer's garment flaps so that even a buttoned overcoat will not impede the rapidity of drawing and firing the gun. To this end the holster is designed to be worn above the left hip of the wearer so that the right hand may be thrust beneath the overlapping left edge of a buttoned overcoat and the gun withdrawn between the buttons thereof.

A further object of my invention is to provide a holster having a disengageable retaining flap which is so constructed and arranged that the very act of disengaging the retaining fiap forces the hand to fit about the butt of the gun in proper firing position.

A further object of my invention is to provide a holster having a retaining flap which is so positioned and arranged that the act of gripping the butt of a gun therein and disengaging the retaining flap forces the trigger finger to overlie the exact spot beneath which the trigger is positioned, so that immediately upon clearing the trigger guard beyond the mouth of the holster the trigger may be engaged by the trigger finger extended in proper firing position.

A further object of my invention is to provide a holster having a retaining flap so constructed and arranged that the act of loosening the retaining flap and drawing the gun from its holster causes the thumb to be in position to draw back the hammer of a single-action revolver, or the hammer of a double-action revolver for those who prefer firing with single-action effect.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of my present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from inspection of the accompanying drawings taken together with the following specification, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

In the drawings: a

Fig. 1 is a front view of the holster of my present invention supported in its positionof 'use and having a revolver mounted therein, the right hand of the wearer in the act of disengaging the hammer flap and drawing the revolver being illustrated in skeleton outline;

Fig. 2 is a partial view in elevation of the reverse side of the holster showing the thumb in the act of disengaging the retaining fiap in skeleton outline;

Fig. 3 is a view taken fromthe plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing "a hand "in skeleton outline in the act of disengaging the retaining flap and grasping the butt of a gun in the holster;

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially alon line 4-"! of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

"Fig. 5 is a partial view taken from the plane cut by the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

My invention comprises a case generally indicated by the numeral III which is preferably formed of a sheet of heavy leather openly folded upon itself along a fold line I I, the leather being softened and shaped about a mold so as to retain a "form such as to snugly receive a gun therein. The fold II is rounded, as indicated in Fig. 4, and is substantially parallel to the axis l2 of the barrel-receiving portion of the holster. The overlapped ends of the material are preferably stitched by a line of stitching I3, more or less shaped to the outline of the gun, and a second line of stitching I4 spaced therefrom except at the'extreme ends, the material between the lines of stitching I3 and I4 forming a depending stiffening fi'a'nge for the gunereceiving case.

The receiving end of the holster is substantially entirely open, except for a hammer-protecting flap I5, as more clearly seen in Fig. 3. The lower end 26 of the holster is preferably open, as seen more clearly in Fig. 4, in order that moisture and dirt may not accumulate in the holster.

The upper edge of the holster is so shaped as to extend beyond the hammer of a revolver or pistol received therein and the flap I5 is attached by a relatively narrow portion along the outer or front edge I! of the holster. The fiap I5 lies in a curved plane substantially normal to the axis l2 and comprises an extension I6 rounded to fit above the end of the curved fold 'Il so that moisture and foreign objects are discouraged from dropping into the holster. The edge I! and the opposite edge I8 are recessed downwardly toward the muzzle end of the holster so as to clear the space between the butt of a gun mounted in the holster and the edges of the holster, while providing a guard for the trigger portion of the gun. l i I The reverse 'or inner face 20 of the holster is 4 provided with a reinforcing pad of leather 2| extending from the upper corner alongside of the fold II and the open edge I8 toward the line of stitching I3, the pad of leather being attached as by means of stitching 22 extending about its edge and a plurality of rivets 23. There is preferably a large rivet 24 adjacent the upper corner of the pad 2| near the fold II, and half of a separable fastener 25 adjacent the open end of the holster also provides riveting effect. The rivets 23 provide means to attach the'rear surface of a leather clincher-loop to the surface of the sheet 2|, the clincher-loop also being stitched to the holster by stitching (not shown). The clincher-loop comprises opposite flaps 3D and 3|, each of which preferably is provided with arow of eyelet openings through which a lace 32 may be passed in order to tighten the flaps 30 and 3I about a' belt 33 worn by the wearer. The flaps 30 and 31 are preferably of considerable length and when drawn tightly about the belt in adjusted position prevent slippage of the holster circumferentially about the body of the wearer from its preferred position.

The fiap I5 extends above the open mouth of the holster'adjacent the hammer-protecting portion thereof and terminates in a downward extension 40 carrying the outer half of the separable fastener 25. The downwardly directed portion 40 has its front edge II standing above the face of the reinforcing pad 2 I. The hammerprotecting extension I5 curves inwardly toward the edge 41, providing a portion adapted snugly to engage the thumb or other finger of the wearer. as seen more particularly in Figs. 2 and 3.

The inner surface of the fold I! may be provided with a longitudinal groove 50, as seen in Figs. 1 and 4, which is adapted to embrace the front sight of a gun and prevent wobbling or rattling of the gun in the case.

In Fig. 1 there is illustrated in skeleton outline the right hand of a person gripping the butt of a revolver worn above and toward the front of his left hip, the middle finger, fourth finger and little finger being engaged in butt-gripping fashion with the butt of the gun. The thumb is hooked over the top of the flap I5 and engaging the edge 4| thereof, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3,'and the index finger is extended along the outside of the front face of the holster with its tip overlying the opening of the trigger guard of the revolver in the holster (Fig. 1). The action of pulling up and out on the butt of the revolver causes firm gripping of the butt and aids the thumb in pressing upwardly and outwardly against the edge 4| of the flap I5. As the revolver clears the holster the tip of the index finger naturally drops into position against the trigger and the thumb may fold around the butt or engage and draw back the hammer, according to the preference of the user.

A left-handed person may wear my holster in the same position with the butt extending above the left hip and the muzzle end of the holster ex tending downwardly along the fiank of the user. In drawing a revolver from this position by the use of the left hand, the middle, fourth and little fingers engage the butt from left to right and the index finger hooks around the tip of the extension 40 of fiap I5. In withdrawing the gun the index finger continues to raise the flap until the gun is partially withdrawn, whereupon it will naturally be in position to engageghe trigger and the thumb may, if desired, draw back on the hammer. When worn by a left-handed person the holster maybe made left-handed and worn on the right hip for use in a left-handed cross-draw, in which case the flap would be opened by the thumb as previously described. I prefer however that the holster be worn on the left hip by all persons as a safeguard against removal by a front-seat passenger, and With a little practice a left-handed draw can be made even by a right-handed person as rapidly as a right-handed cross-draw. Left-handed users should never button a normal overcoat over the holster, unless they also learn to cross-draw righthandedly. This is in line with the modern trend of teaching law enforcement ofiieers to use a gun equally well with either hand.

It is to be remarked that the holster in this position is held tightly against the body of the user at such an angle that the butt is always available for instantaneous grasping, and that the weapon will not interfere with the body of the user whether sitting, standing or moving about. The weapon snugly fits against the body in a position such that no bulges are noticeable through the clothing when worn beneath a coat or overcoat. It may be drawn rapidly even when positioned beneath a buttoned overcoat. The weapon cannot become lost in a scuffle or when thrashing about in tangled underbrush, and cannot be disengaged by a second person without the second person placing his arm in such a position that the wearer can apply painful holds thereto. The weapon is not disposed at such a position that a person riding beside the driver of the vehicle wearing the holster can reach for and disengage it without being caught in the act.

It is to be appreciated that while I have used the words revolver or pistol throughout this specification *in describing the weapon for which the holster is adapted, and while a revolver is illustrated, the holster may be used equally well with any type of hand gun. All that would be required would be to change the configuration of the mould over which the leather is formed and to so change the outline of the holster as to accommodate the preferred type of hand gun.

Having illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications in detail and arrangement thereof are permissible. All such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims are considered to be a part of my invention.

I claim:

1. A hand-gun holster comprising a piece of moldable material folded upon itself and shaped to form a case having an open, upper hand-gunreceiving end, a relatively small, integral hammer-enclosing flap extending across the hammersurrounding portion only of said open end from the front side wall of the case, a snap fastener including a portion carried on said flap and a cooperating portion mounted on the outside surface of the rear side wall of said case, said flap being so constructed and arranged that an edge of its snap-fastened end stands out from the side of the case to permit digital engagement thereof by the wearer, and belt-embracing means on said rear side wall beneath said flap.

2. A hand-gun holster comprising a case having an upper, open, hand-gun-receiving end, a relatively small, integral hammer-enclosing flap extending across a portion only of said open end from the outer side wall of the case, snapfastening means fastening the free end of said flap to the outside surface of the inner side wall of the case, and a clincher-loop extending transversely of said outside surface of the inner side wall at an angle to the barrel axis of the case and below said snap-fastening means.

3. A hand-gun holster comprising a shaped piece of mcldable material openly folded upon itself and fastened along its overlying edges to form an open-ended case, a relatively small flap extending from one edge of the receiving end of the case adjacent the fold, snap-fastening means including a portion on said flap and a portion mounted on the outer surface of the side of the case opposite to the side from which said flap extends, said flap when snap-fastened to the opposite side of the case forming a hammerprotecting, partial end closure adjacent the line of folding and having an outstanding edge extending substantially parallel to and closely adjacent the line of folding, and an adjustable clincher-loop mounted on the side of the case beneath the snap-fastener portion on the side of the case, said clincher-loop extending at an angle of substantially degrees to the line of folding.

'LOYD J. BRICE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 4

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 668,382 Martin Feb. 19, 1901 926,402 Geissler June 29, 1909 1,230,043 Shelton June 12, 1917 1,320,751 Freyer Nov. 4, 1919 1,747,454 Mees Feb. 18, 1930 2,049,293 Fink July 28, 1936 2,297,008 McMillan Sept. 29, 1942 2,396,118 Ohlemeyer Mar. 5, 1946 2,410,640 Engle Nov. 5, 1946 

